The Harrison Township Committee voted to adopt a 2026 municipal budget during its May 4 meeting that showed a decrease for the second straight year.
The total for this year is $14,394,738.47, compared with the 2025 amount of $14,590,330.55. That represents a decrease of 1.34%, or $195,593. The numbers were announced in a budget presentation before the voting took place. The reason for the decrease is a result of debt falling off, according to Mayor Adam Wingate.
“This year,” he explained, “we came into 2026 with the goal of hiring two full-time police officers and one part-time officer, hire one to two public works full-time employees, potentially hire a business administrator to help out around the (municipal) building. We also wanted to build a budget that was sustainable for the future.
“I know over years past that we built a budget hoping and waiting we were going to get a true revenue coming in, a true pilot coming in. I think over the last 10 to 12 years, the budget was just created and kind of Band-Aided together year in and year out.
“So, this year the focus was on generating a sustainable future, not just a budget meant to last temporarily.”
Around $1.7 million of the budget will go towards a capital plan, according to the presentation. This plan includes road improvements, police vehicles and equipment, public works vehicles and equipment, code enforcement vehicles and a new sewer plant office, after the old one was destroyed in a fire.
The exact percentage of where tax dollars are going towards was also showcased. 30% goes towards the Harrison Township School District, 26% to Clearview, 22% to the county tax, 18% to the local municipal tax, 3% to the fire district and 1% to municipal open space.
“What does your 18% actually pay for?” Wingate said. “It pays for your police and public safety, public works services, general municipal services, trash and recycling collections and disposal, curbside bulk and metal, electronics pick up, curbside yard waste, brush and leaf collection, recreation facility, maintenance, upkeep, various boards and commissions and capital improvement projects.”
Annual challenges with the budget were also laid out. These included staying within the state0mandated 2% CAP, as well as rising costs for benefits, fuel, energy, aging infrastructure and understaffed department levels.
The committee, after a public session for the budget, voted 3-1 to adopt. Only member Kevin French – who had issues with surplus use – voted no. Committeeman Jeffrey Jacques was absent.
